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Dried Hawthorne Berries
The Hawthorn Tree, also known as the Thornapple Tree has an extensive history of folklore and legend, especially in Europe and the British Isles. The most famous Hawthorn in Britain is the Holy Thorn of Glastonbury, which grows at Glastonbury Tor, (the supposed resting place of King Arthur). According to legend, the tree was grown after Joseph of Arimathea, upon arriving at Glastonbury Tor, thrust his staff into the ground, and from this the tree grew. Although the original is no longer there, several of its supposed descendants still grow there. Traditionally, when it blooms during the winter, a sprig is sent to the Queen, who is said to use it to decorate her breakfast table on Christmas morning.
Hawthorne fruit has long been used as a food and medicine in Europe; particularly Germany, Austria, and Switzerland, where it ranks as one of the most popularly used botanical medicines, especially for treating declining heart function.
Hawthorn Berries are used for their antispasmodic, cardiac, diuretic, sedative, tonic and vasodilation properties. The berries have a hypotensive effect as well as acting as a direct and mild heart tonic.
The traditional use of hawthorn berries is the treatment of a "weak heart" combined with high blood pressure. The berries are also used to treat a heart muscle weakened by age, for inflammation of the heart muscle, for arteriosclerosis, and for nervous heart. The effect of hawthorn berry on these heart conditions is not immediate.
Another common use for dried hawthorn berries is the treatment of orthostatic hypotension, a sudden loss of blood pressure caused by moving from a seated position to a standing position.
It is also said that, making a cup of tea with no more than a half-teaspoon of crushed, dried Hawthorne berries can relieve constipation and gas. Kampo (Japanese herbal) medicine often uses crushed hawthorn berries with other herbs to treat colitis diarrhea caused by Crohn's disease, and various conditions causing rectal bleeding.
As with any herb or supplement, a physician should be consulted prior to use. |
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Additional Seed Details
- Family: Rosaceae (ro-ZAY-see-ee)
- Genus: Crataegus (krah-TEE-gus)
- Species: laevigata (lee-vih-GAY-tuh)
- AKA:Thornapple, Thorn Apple Tree
- Category: Dried Herbs, Shrubs, Trees
- Storage: Dried Hawthorne Berries should be kept in a cool, dark space in an airtight container
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